Heart-Purification Divine Incantation, Third Realm Mastery, A Way to Make Money

Though Su Linyin secretly felt that Jiang Xuan was far too arrogant, with no small amount of schadenfreude toward Dong Hao mixed in, she revealed none of it on the surface.

As she approached, she even curved her lips at Jiang Xuan, revealing a gentle and proper smile. "Jiang Xuan, it has been a long time."

"Hm?" Before Jiang Xuan could say anything, Dong Hao had already raised a brow and looked at the two in surprise. "You know each other?"

"Of course we do." Su Linyin answered softly. "Our two households have been old acquaintances for generations and still keep in contact. I even spoke with Aunt Yuerong yesterday."

"Aunt Yuerong specifically reminded us to look after one another at the Dao Academy." Having said this, she first cast Dong Hao a meaningful glance before turning to Jiang Xuan with a light smile. "Still, it could not be better that you have teamed up with Young Master Dong. I have long heard that Young Master Dong handles matters with great prudence. With him looking after you, Aunt Yuerong can rest easy as well."

As soon as her words fell, Dong Hao instantly grasped the hidden implications. Because Jiang Xuan's background had always been entangled with the Su Household, although he did not know why Jiang Xuan had not thrown in his lot with them, the Su Household clearly still had private ties with Jiang Xuan's mother.

At the same time, he understood why Su Linyin had come over—she was plainly telling him that Jiang Xuan was a talent she had ceded to him, and that he owed her a favor.

Upon learning this, Dong Hao felt neither anger nor guilt over owing someone a favor. Only one feeling remained in his heart—astonishment.

He truly could not understand how the Su Household could bear to abandon such a rough jade of a sword cultivator, someone who had achieved Unity of Man and Sword in merely one day.

"Was Jiang Xuan so flawed in temperament that he could not be molded, or was the Su Household... blind as bats, unable to recognize this flawless jade hiding its edge?"

In truth, neither guess was correct. The reason the Su Household had failed to notice before was that, prior to becoming a Clear-Heart Sword Disciple, Jiang Xuan simply had no talent for sword cultivation!

Furthermore, the Su Household's years of contact with Jiang Xuan had formed a fixed pattern of thinking.

They simply did not believe Jiang Xuan possessed any unusual abilities. That was also why Su Linyin had so easily "given up" Jiang Xuan, while even feeling pity for Dong Hao.

"Forget it. Whatever the reason, since you were blind and failed to see this talent, Jiang Xuan shall be taken in by this young master."

Though countless thoughts churned through his heart, Dong Hao revealed nothing on his face.

"Hahaha, then I must thank Miss Su for putting in a good word. Brother Jiang and I hit it off at first sight. I very much wish to team up with him and face the great examination a hundred days from now together..."

As he chatted and laughed, Dong Hao signaled for the accompanying Nan Zhi to spread out the dining cloth and arrange the food boxes, then naturally invited Su Linyin to sit and dine with them.

Su Linyin readily agreed.

During the meal, she also brought up Jiang Quan's matter with sorrow in her voice and, in the name of offering condolences, left several bottles of pills for Jiang Xuan.

—No matter what schemes each harbored in their hearts, as the direct heirs painstakingly raised by their lineages, Dong Hao and Su Linyin performed their superficial courtesies without a single drop leaking through.

Jiang Xuan... accepted those pills as well.

For one thing, he could indeed use such things in his cultivation now. For another, he did not wish to stir up complications at such a crucial juncture.

"If I stubbornly refuse them, the Su Household may instead believe that I bear resentment toward them. That would more easily invite trouble, which would be far from ideal."

And so, Jiang Xuan ate the meal without a ripple of disturbance, while Su Linyin and Dong Hao each harbored their own thoughts. Their words crossed blades at the table, with undercurrents surging without cease.

After the two left, they spoke in private for a while longer and reached an unspoken agreement.

After the two departed, Cheng Xiu once again wore an expression of wanting to speak but hesitating.

He truly wished to teach Jiang Xuan a thing or two about the duties of a subordinate, as well as the ways of the world for low-level cultivators.

This might have somewhat resembled an emperor who was not anxious while the eunuch beside him worried himself sick, but while everyone else knew only to envy Jiang Xuan, Cheng Xiu alone had noticed that Jiang Xuan surely possessed talent. He had even resolved to take the initiative and attach himself to the "penniless" Jiang Xuan, which itself showed that he had a keen mind.

As such, he could clearly recognize that his honor, disgrace, and future all rested upon Jiang Xuan.

Moreover, he understood even more clearly that he had absolutely no possibility of switching over to Dong Hao—he did not believe he possessed any talent or outstanding quality that could attract Dong Hao.

Because his prospects and future were entirely tied to Jiang Xuan, he sincerely hoped that everything would go smoothly for Jiang Xuan, without the slightest mistake.

Unfortunately, in his understanding, Jiang Xuan was the lower-ranking party before Dong Hao, and he was likewise the lower-ranking party before Jiang Xuan.

After Jiang Xuan made it clear that he did not want unnecessary meddling, Cheng Xiu no longer dared to remind him again and again.

In truth, Jiang Xuan had no need for his reminders.

Though Jiang Xuan had not devoted himself to fully analyzing the thoughts and calculations of those around him, he understood them to some extent.

But he understood one thing even more clearly: for truly capable scions of aristocratic clans, a respectful attitude had never been necessary. Nor could respect be exchanged for respect. They would only take it for granted—servants who were reverent and submissive before them were something they had seen countless times already.

"The true reason I can gain a foothold in this world and make Dong Hao value and recruit me has always been only my cultivation, my potential, and the value I can bring them!"

"As long as this core competitiveness remains, what does it matter if I am a little more aloof?"

Geniuses were born with the privilege of being aloof.

Having seen through this, Jiang Xuan was unwilling to spend even half a thought pondering worldly etiquette—rather than waste time on that, he might as well cultivate a little longer.

"Besides, cultivating immortality is fundamentally cultivating the heart. If my heart is filled with calculations of currying favor and bending myself to please others, can this sword heart, this Great Dao, still be walked?"

"Whew..."

Holding the Azure Glaze Sword in his arms, Jiang Xuan cast all the survival wisdom of those petty mortal figures to the back of his mind. Once more, he softly recited the Heart-Purification Divine Incantation, cleansing his mind and returning his Spirit Platform to crystalline clarity and empty brilliance.

For the time that followed, Jiang Xuan continued silently reciting this divine incantation, without distraction.

The cultivation resources Dong Hao had sent to recruit him were not only plentiful in number, but also of excellent quality. Bolstered by pills and spiritual meals, after a morning of arduous cultivation, although Jiang Xuan's physical body required rest and adjustment, his soul remained full and vigorous, with strength to spare.

Naturally, Jiang Xuan would not waste such a fine opportunity, so he took the chance to focus on cultivating the divine incantation.

Yet unlike before, he did not cultivate all three great divine incantations together today. He focused solely upon the Heart-Purification Divine Incantation.

This was due to an experiment Jiang Xuan had in mind.

"Whether spells or cultivation arts, once they reach the Third Realm—Mastery—they enter the stage of minor accomplishment, and undergo a qualitative transformation as profound as shedding one's mortal body and exchanging one's bones. Let me see what changes the Third Realm Purifying Heart Incantation will bring."

"The Supreme Platform Stars respond without cease; they expel evil and bind fiends, preserving life and protecting the body. Wisdom shines pure and bright, heart and spirit rest in peace; the three souls endure forever, the seven spirits suffer no loss or collapse..."

With his eyes lightly closed, Jiang Xuan recited softly again and again. Every recitation layered the divine incantation's power over his own body.

"Buzz—"

As the divine incantation took effect time after time, Jiang Xuan's mind became ever calmer, ever more harmonious, and ever more—keen!

When ordinary people recited the Heart-Purification Divine Incantation, they gained no more than a peaceful state of mind and a clear Spirit Platform.

Yet Jiang Xuan now held the Azure Glaze bamboo sword in his arms and possessed many talents, such as Sword of the Mind and Heart: Sincerity. Moreover, the Heart-Purification Divine Incantation was the foremost of the Daoist sect's eight great divine incantations. It appeared basic, yet encompassed all things. It could even be called of the same root and source as his Sword of the Mind, blending with it seamlessly.

With all these opportunities layered together, Jiang Xuan's recitation of the incantation was also sword cultivation; purifying his heart was also tempering his heart.

This was evident from the logs and prompts constantly refreshing on the game panel.

[You wholeheartedly recited the Heart-Purification Divine Incantation once. Your Daoist Acolyte class experience +2. You are now a Level 2 Daoist Acolyte (91/600); your Heart-Purification Divine Incantation proficiency +2. You are now at Second Realm—Proficient (39/300).]

[The purity of your mind has increased. Your Sword of the Mind proficiency +2, First Realm—Beginner (47/800); your Clear-Heart Mirror (Self-Observation) proficiency +2, First Realm—Beginner (367/3000).]

[Your Clear-Heart Sword Disciple class experience +4.]

[Clear-Heart Sword Disciple (Purple Treasure)]

[Level: 1/5 (107/900)]

[Class Passives: Clear-Heart Mirror (Self-Observation), Heart: Sincerity]

[Class Skill: Sword of the Mind]

[Available Class Advancement Paths: None]

Class advancement and class changes were not fully unlocked from the beginning. Jiang Xuan usually had to fulfill specific prerequisite conditions before they would reveal themselves one by one.

For instance, the Mountain Guardian Daoist, Demon-Slaying Daoist, and Scripture Mystic Daoist Jiang Xuan had seen yesterday were paths he had independently opened after combining and blending the two elements of [Sword] and [Daoist Acolyte].

At present, because the Clear-Heart Sword Disciple was of too high a grade, its advancement and class change paths were also harder to reveal.

"Forcing a class change open would not be difficult. I only need to raise the Clear-Heart Sword Disciple to the completion of Level 5, then push Clear-Heart Mirror (Self-Observation) and Sword of the Mind to their current limits. At that point, no matter what, a guaranteed class change path will appear."

"However, with this method, the class grade will not improve in the slightest after changing classes. At most, I would go from a Clear-Heart Sword Disciple to a Clear-Heart Swordsman... If I want a class change that brings a qualitative transformation as profound as shedding my mortal body and exchanging my bones, my sword Dao and sword intent must expand outward and walk a broader road."

Jiang Xuan's thoughts at present were not distracting stray thoughts that disturbed his mind, but a questioning of the road ahead for his own sword Dao. Thus, not only were they not severed by the talent Heart: Sincerity, they instead received its full support.

With ultimate focus paired with a crystalline and empty Spirit Platform, Jiang Xuan gradually truly found a road to the heavens for his Clear-Heart Sword Disciple realm.

"One Qi Sword Art, one heart, one thought, Clear-Heart Mirror (Self-Observation)... I have found it. My Dao is there!"

[You have determined the path ahead for your sword Dao. Your mind is no longer lost. Your Heart-Purification Divine Incantation experience +103.]

[Your Sword of the Mind experience +132.]

[Your Clearheart Mirror (Self-Observation) experience +192.]

[Your Clear-Heart Sword Disciple experience +164.]

[...]

Jiang Xuan, who had gained an insight in his heart, seemed to have swept away the dust of his mind and broken through the obstacles within it. He had undergone a small moment of enlightenment.

This enlightenment also brought Jiang Xuan considerable gains in his mind.

His Heart-Purification Divine Incantation leaped from Second Realm—Proficient (39/300) to Second Realm—Proficient (142/300). He had already covered nearly half the path toward the Third Realm—Mastery, where the qualitative transformation awaited.

"Bodhi was never a tree, nor was the bright mirror a stand. Originally, there was not a single thing—where could dust arise?"

"When it comes to cultivating the mind, years of arduous practice sometimes cannot compare to the rapid progress of a single enlightenment. No wonder there is such a Buddhist verse. Unfortunately, I am not a peerless prodigy born with a Dao heart. For me, enlightenment is a chance encounter that cannot be sought, not the norm of cultivation."

This faint ripple had only just stirred Jiang Xuan's heart when his Sword of the Mind cleaved it apart with one stroke.

Very quickly, he gathered his mind once more, embraced the origin and guarded the one, and recited the Heart-Purification Divine Incantation with utmost sincerity.

Because he held Qingli in his arms, triggering the passive [Heart: Sincerity], and because the Heart-Purification Divine Incantation could perfectly combine with Sword of the Mind and Clear-Heart Sword Disciple, Jiang Xuan recited the incantation as though practicing swordsmanship, his spirit intensely concentrated and focused.

At this moment, he felt as though he had forgotten both self and surroundings.

This wholehearted devotion meant that every time Jiang Xuan recited the Purifying Heart Incantation, his experience did not merely increase by +1, but by +2. At times, it even surged by +3, +4... and more.

This supremely efficient cultivation allowed Jiang Xuan to push the Heart-Purification Divine Incantation into the Third Realm—Mastery in only one afternoon.

The qualitative transformation belonging to this divine incantation then crashed down upon him with a roar.

"Buzz—!"

At a certain instant, Jiang Xuan, who was reciting the divine incantation, suddenly sensed a clear and crystalline spiritual radiance descending from the heavens and spilling into the depths of his sea of consciousness.

This light soothed every ripple in his heart and spirit, swept away the exhaustion and confusion of his soul, and seeped strand by strand into the depths of his soul body, bringing an unprecedented stability and tranquility.

As the spiritual radiance completely merged into his soul body, a realization suddenly arose in Jiang Xuan's heart—his Heart-Purification Divine Incantation had advanced.

And that was indeed the case.

[You wholeheartedly recited the Heart-Purification Divine Incantation once. Your Heart-Purification Divine Incantation experience +3. You are now at Second Realm—Proficient (301/300).]

[Your Heart-Purification Divine Incantation has advanced. You are now at Third Realm—Mastery.]

[Heart-Purification Divine Incantation]

[Realm: Third Realm—Mastery]

[Ability Description: Through years upon years of recitation and cultivation, your understanding of the Heart-Purification Divine Incantation has surpassed mere skill born of repeated practice, reaching a deeper comprehension unique to yourself. The duration of your Heart-Purification Divine Incantation's enhancement has increased; your Heart-Purification Divine Incantation can dispel disorder and calm the heart and spirit; when you fall into illusions or develop demonic hindrances, you may recite the divine incantation to break the illusion and drive away heart demons; your divine incantation may be cast upon others; you have gained one layer of the "Transcendent Purity" effect.]

The changes brought by the Third Realm Heart-Purification Divine Incantation were nothing short of earthshaking. The extended enhancement duration alone meant that a single recitation could grant Jiang Xuan nearly one shichen of Clarity of the Spirit Platform.

When this trait was combined with the ability to cast it upon others, a thought suddenly arose in Jiang Xuan's heart.

"Perhaps I can reveal this ability and cast the incantation upon other students in the Dao Academy."

The reason this thought arose was not because Jiang Xuan wanted to show off the moment he gained an ability, nor because he was selfless. It was because he—desperately lacked Spirit Stones.

He had never intended to rely on Dong Hao's support forever, yet every part of his current cultivation path required Spirit Stones to pave the way. Whether buying pills to replenish his vital energy or establishing the Scripture Repository he had planned to unlock the Scripture Mystic Daoist class change, he needed an amount of Spirit Stones that was an astronomical figure to him at present.

This had kept Jiang Xuan pondering how to open a stable source of Spirit Stones.

And now, the Heart-Purification Divine Incantation that had advanced to Third Realm Mastery allowed him to see a perfect opportunity.

"For Daoist cultivators, reciting incantations and praying blessings for others is already the proper path to establish oneself in the world. I can cast the incantation to purify the hearts of my fellow disciples and charge a small amount of Spirit Stones as compensation. This is simply a Daoist's proper duty. What is more, when I do this, my Daoist Acolyte class experience can also increase... Besides, while the effect will be somewhat weaker when the Heart-Purification Divine Incantation is cast on others, that will keep my ability from being too conspicuous."

The more Jiang Xuan considered it, the more he felt this was the road most suitable for him right now.

However, he had no intention of immediately setting to work on it.

"The matter of earning Spirit Stones is not urgent. I will wait until I enter the Dao-Bearing Class... That will be the safest time."

"Besides, if I can enter the Dao-Bearing Class with an excellent rating, that itself will be the finest golden signboard. By then, my fellow disciples' willingness to pay Spirit Stones to have me cast incantations for them will rise with the tide."

Setting aside the matter of making money, Jiang Xuan looked at the sky and discovered that it was already time for evening lessons. Seeing this, he hurriedly gathered his mind and began his second meditation cultivation session of the day.

Nothing unexpected occurred during cultivation. Relying on the Qingli Sword and the enhancement of the three great divine incantations, he absorbed only pure spiritual qi and opened another five... six acupoints that night.

The enhancement from the Third Realm Heart-Purification Divine Incantation had also somewhat improved Jiang Xuan's control over the natural spiritual qi between heaven and earth, as well as his divine intent's infiltration.

Unfortunately, a cultivator's early-stage cultivation ultimately centered on Refining Essence into Qi, whereas the aspect in which Jiang Xuan had broken through was his soul and the purity of his mind.

This would benefit his later cultivation, but for now, the effect was not especially strong.

At present, he had opened the sixth acupoint, but lacked sufficient mana to nurture it to completion for the time being.

"But this is enough."

By now, the number of acupoints Jiang Xuan had opened had reached twenty-nine. He was only seven away from the thirty-six needed for an excellent rating.

At the same time, this was also their sixth day since entering the Dao Academy. Tomorrow would be the final day of the excellent-rating assessment!

"Whether I become a dragon or a worm depends on tomorrow's fortune!"